Bearing



Dec. 7, 1948. A, s, HWELL 2,455,489

` BEARING Filed Sept. 28, 1944 2, IVENTUR ALBERT E. HUWELL AT T'Y Patented Dec. 7, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE` lBEARING Albert S. Howell, Culver, Ind., assignor to The Bell & Howell Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 28, 1944, Serial No. 556,175 4 Claims. (Cl. 30S- 122) l 2 My invention relates to bearings of the rotary for carrying any structure, such as a pulley I5, type and objects of the invention reside in the thereon for rotation. See Figures 12 and y3. provision of a novel, simple and eiiicient bearing The bearing members and 6 and the shaft II which provides for adequate lubrication thereof, are axially bored, as designated respectively at which is economical as to manufacture, which is 5 IS, I'l and I8, these bores being thus coaxial with Well vadapted to withstand long use, and which the rotational axis of the shaft and constituting is preferably self-alining. lubricant bores, The bore I6 extends only ,par-l The invention will be better understood by reftially through the bearing member 5 and inwardly erence to the accompanying drawing, in whichfrom the bearing surface 8 thereof and the bores Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a bearing 10 Il' and I8 extend respectively entirely through structure embodying my invention; the bearing member 6 and the shaft II, so that Figure 2 is an axial sectional view of the same; the bore I1 extends inwardly from the bear-ing Figure 3 is an enlarged axial sectional view of surface 9 and the bore I8 extends inwardly from one of the bearings of the invention; and the bearing surfaces .I2 and I3, these bores thus Figure 4 is an enlarged partial sectional View communicating with either or both of the bearing substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 2. balls I4. g Referring to the drawing, I designates a base, The bearing balls I4 are provided with lubriand spaced upright supports 2 are secured on the cant bores I9 extending diametrically therebase by means of headed screw members 3 ex- 20 through which provide sequential communicationi tending upwardly through the base and screwwith the lubricant bores I 6, I'I and I8, and, -in threaded into the supports 2. See Figures 1 and 2. order to maintain this communication, limiting The upper end portions of the supports 2 are pins 2| respectively extend through and are se provided with transverse bores 4 which are axially cured by press tting yin the bores I9 of the bearalined, as best shown in Figure 2, and stationary ing balls and extend in the bores I 6, I 'I and I8, cylindrical support or bearing members 5 and 6 and are thus operative to limit angular move,- are respectively mounted in these bores and are ment of the bearing balls transversely of the secured in longitudinally adjusted position thererotational axis of the shaft II, the pins 2| being in by means of set screws 'I screwthreaded into of lesser diameter than the bores I6, l1 and I8- the supports 2 and radially engaging these bear- 30 and thus being loosely engaged therein to permit ing members. As so mounted, these bearing mema limited amount of angular movement oi' .the bers are disposed in axially alined and spaced bearing balls transversely of the rotational axis relation and constitute support members of the oi the shaft `as indicated in Figure 3. The ends bearing structure. of the limiting pins 2I are preferably tapered, as

The iopposing ends of the bearing members 5 35 designated at 22 in Figure 3, to provide an exand 6 are provided with concentric bearing surtended contact of the ends of the limiting pins faces of concave part spherical character, respecwith .the walls of the bores i6, I7 and I8 and to tively designated at 8 and 9, which oppose each permit additional limited angular movement 'of other axially of the bearing members. the bear-ing balls transversely of the rotational A rotatable shaft II extends axially between axisof the shaft, it being observed that this anguthe bearing members 5 and 6 and its ends are lar movement ofthe bearing balls is limited withprovided with concentric oppositely disposed in a range maintaining communication of the? bearing surfaces of concave part spherical charlubricant bores I6, I'I', I8 and I9 while providing acter, respectively designated at I2 and I3, which for self-alinement of the bearing structure. `The respectively oppose the bearing surfaces 8 and S 45 limiting pins 2l are longitudinally iiuted, as desig-v axially of the rotational axis of the shaft, this nated at 2'3 in Figures 3 and 4, to provide for the axis being coincident with that of the bearing passage of lubricant through the bores I9, so that members 5 and 6. lubricant fed to the bore I'l of the bearing mem- Bearing members I 4 of convex spherical charber I5 passes into all of the lubricant bores and acter, such as bearing balls, are respectively disis thus conducted directly to all of the bearing posed between and have opposite bearing ensurfaces cf the bearing structure with resultingv gagement with opposing of the bearing surfaces adequate lubrication.

8 and 9 and the bearing surfaces I2 and I3, thus A vertically disposed cylindrical lubricant resproviding a bearing structure upon which the ervoir 24 is mounted on the base I, as shown in shaft I I is rotatable, the shaft being thus adapted Figures 1 and 2, and mounted in vthe reservoirl is a vertical pump cyl'nder 25 provided with a weighted piston 26 as best shown in Figure 2. Communication between the reservoir and the bottom of the pump cylinder is provided by a usual intake check valve 21 permitting passage of lubricant from the reservoir into the pump cylinder as the piston is raised and preventing passage of lubricant from the pump cylinder back to the reservoir. The bottom of the pump cylinder is provided with a restricted outlet 28 which is connected with the outer end of the bore I1 of the bearing member 6 by means of a pipe 29, so that, after the piston 26 is raised to draw lubricant into the pump cylinder 25 and released, the weight of the piston feeds lubricant under pressure into the lubricant bores of the bearing structure and thus adequately lubricates the bearing surfaces of the bearing structure.

Annular lubricant sealing devices are provided which surround the bearing members and 6 and the shaft l l respectively at the axially opposing portions thereof and each of these devices consists, as best shown in Figures 3 and 4, of a rigid annular member 3| in the form of a lubricant throw flange secured on the periphery of the shaft Il adjacent an end thereof and overhanging the adjacent bearing member 5 or 6 and provided with an internal concentric groove 32 overlapping the adjoining ends of the shaft Il and the bearing member 5 or 6, and an annular sealing lmember 33 of yieldable material, such as felt, seated in the groove 32 and bridging the space between the ends of the shaft Il and the member 5 or 6 and having its inner periphery engaged with the peripheries of the shaft Il and the bearing member 5 or 6, the sealing member as well as the throw flange 3| rotating about the bearing member 5 or 6 with rotation of the shaft Il.

As lubricant, under pressure from the weight of the vpiston 26, seeps past the sealing members 33, it is thrown from the throw flanges 3l as the shaft Il is rotated, and lubricant from the throw flanges is collected by stationary lubricant collecting casings 34 which respectively surround the throw anges 3l. See Figure 2. The lubricant collecting casings are provided with drain outlets 35 which communicate respectively with lubricant passage bores 36 in the upright supports 2 and these bores communicate with lubricant passage bores 31 extending axially through the members 3. A branch pipe 38 has branches thereof respectively secured, by compression couplings 39, with the lower ends of the members 3 in communication'with the bores 31, and this pipe communicates with the reservoir 24, as desig.. nated at 4I, so that lubricant collected by the collecting casings 34 is returned by gravity to the reservoir for re-circulation through the bearing structure by means of the piston 26 operating in the pump cylinder 25 as before described. Thus is provided a lubricant circulating means communicating with the lubricant bore I1 of the bearing member 6 and the drain outlets 35 of the collecting casings 34,` whereby constant lubrication of the bearing structure may be afforded with lubricant which is used-again and again.

While I have thus described my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the precise details described, as changes may be readily made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:

1. In a bearing, the combination of support and rotatable members provided with bearing surfaces of concave part spherical character and opposing axially of the rotational axis of said rotatable member, a bearing member of convex spherical character disposed between and having opposite bearing engagement with said surfaces, said support and rotatable members being provided with lubricant bores coaxial with said rotational axis and said bearing member being provided with a lubricant bore extending diametrically therethrough, and a longitudinally fluted limiting pin extending and secured in said bore of said bearing member and extending into and loosely engaging in said bores of said support and rotatable members and operative to permit limited angular movement of said bearing member transversely of said rotational axis within a range maintaining communication between said lubricant bores.

2. In a bearing, the combination of support and rotatable members provided with bearing surfaces of concave part spherical character and opposing axially of the rotational axis of said rotatable member, a bearing member of convex spherical bearing surface character disposed between and having opposite bearing engagement with said surfaces, limiting means operative 0n said bearing member to limit angular movement thereof transversely of said rotational axis, said bearing member and at least one of said support and rotatable members being provided with lubricant passages communicating in the region of said rotational axis, an annular lubricant sealing device surrounding said support and rotatable members at the axially opposing portions thereof and secured with said rotatable member for rotation therewith and provided with a peripheral lubricant throw flange, and a stationary lubricant collecting casing surrounding said throw flange and provided with a drain outlet.

3. In a bearing, the combination of support and rotatable members provided with bearing surfaces of concave part spherical character and opposing axially of the rotational axis of said rotatable member, a bearing member of convex spherical character disposed between and having opposite bearing engagement with said surfaces, said support member being provided with a lubricant bore coaxial with Isaid rotational axis and said bearing member being provided with a lubricant bore extending diametrically thereof, a limiting pin extending in both of said bores and adapted to permit the passage of lubricant thereby and loosely engaged in at least one of said bores to permit limited angular movement of said bearing member transversely of said rotational axis within a range maintaining cornmunication of said bores, an annular peripheral lubricant throw flange surrounding said rotatable member in the region of the opposing portions of said support and rotatable members and secured with said rotatable member for rotation therewith, a stationary lubricant collecting casingl surrounding said throw flange and provided with a drain outlet, and a lubricant circulating means communicating with the lubricant bore of said support member and said drain outlet and operative to conduct lubricant to said lubricant bore of said support member and to receive lubricant from said drain outlet.

4. In a bearing, the combination of spaced support members and a rotatable member extending axially therebetween and said support members being provided with bearing surfaces of concave part spherical character and opposing axially of the rotational axis `oi said rotatable member and said rotatable member being provided with oppositely disposed bearing surfaces of concave part spherical character respectively opposing said first mentioned bearing surfaces axially of said rotational axis, bearing members of convex spherical character respectively disposed between and having opposite bearing engagement With opposing of said first and second mentioned bearing surfaces, said rotatable member and at least one of said support members being provided with lubricant bores coaxial With said rotational axis and said bearing members being provided with lubricant bores extendingr diametrically therethrough and providing sequential communication with said rst mentioned bores, longitudinally uted limiting pins respectively extending and secured in said bores of said bearing members and extending into and loosely engaging in said bores of said support and rotatable members and operative to permit limited angular movement of said bearing members transversely of said rotational axis Within a range maintaining communication between said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Avery Sept. 19, 1911 Bouch et al 1 Sept. 13, 1927 Number 

